Imperial Diet

[OverKnight]

Mein Kaiser, Prinz Henry, and my fellow Electors.

I will second edict 2.5. I am grateful and honored that the Kaiser has placed Bologna under the rule of Bavaria, but we must prove ourselves worthy of this gift on the field of battle! The other houses have shown their valor in crushing rebels for the Reich and I am most eager for Bavaria to join them!

I assume my good friend Conrad von Schusslen proposed edict 2.2 to keep the newest member of the royal family occupied so that he would not march on Dijon, as Sigismund sought in edict 2.1. South rather than west, eh Conrad? Still, I will second edict 2.4. I would like not to be known as an oath-breaker. But I have already spoken about my views on our alliance with Venice in the Diet and will not bore you repeating them.

Now, if we are to talk of war with Milan, wouldn't we need an edict for a declaration of war? The Kaiser has also proposed that we cancel our treaty with Venice and seize their lagoon city for our own. War with them would also require an edict. I do not believe the time is ripe for war against either of the merchant states, much less both of them. They shall be ours, but the remaining rebel settlements on our borders should come first! If we do not take them, someone else will! I second edict 2.3 and I propose:

edict 2.6: Besiege Stettin as soon as possible, and assault it within 20 years (10 turns).

We should pluck the lowest fruit left on the tree before climbing to the higher branches.

Thank you my lords.

Edit: [OOC] I proposed a duplicate edict for Breslau.

[Lucjan]

"It is good to see our electors so eager to engage themselves once again in the Diet proceedings." Dietrich, making his way to the center of the Diet floor from his seat and rubbing his chin in contemplation, took a deep breathe as he looked around the room. It was strange being back in the Diet not just as an elector, but as a member of the royal house. His marriage to Agnes had elevated his station, but he stood among these men as equals, and as he looked about the room full of familiar faces, he smiled. "And it is good to see so much enthusiasm in guiding the Reich towards the greatter glory of the future, but I must urge caution in our pursuits from this point onward. We are now bordered on all sides by Kingdoms who, for all intents and purposes, have the same goals in mind for their people as we do for ours. So, I feel I should put forth my strategic review of the situation as we stand now, before making any comment or suggestion of edicts.

Firstly, in the south. I believe that while we have secured the necessary settlements in northern Italy to make our claim to the peninsula a valid one. We do not yet have a significantly favorable enough standing in the eyes of the Pope to blatantly declare war on Milan without incurring gruelling trials that accompany an excommunication. Milan is Christian and Italian, therefore, the Pope has every reason to be dually sympathetic to their cause, and not ours.

While we're on the topic of Italy, it has also come to my attention that a band of brigands are causing unrest south of Florence. Before any options can be considered to expand our position in Italy, we must make sure our position there is secure. Doing this means quashing rebellion before it spreads, and making sure that our rule is recognized as law, not suggestions.

In regards to Venice, and essentially edict 2.4, I must express both praise and reservations in with this proposal. It would wholy irresponsible to place the Reich in such a position as to be the betrayers of this treaty. We would see excommunication faster this way than by waging open war on Milan. I must agree that our word should not be given lightly. We are the leaders of the Christian world are we not? Then let us set an example. We must maintain our alliance with Venice until they break it. Let them take the fall for a move we have long anticipated. However, I cannot support this edict in it's current form because it advocates ourselves breaking the treaty in a "dire" circumstance. Proper maneouvering and use of the careful eye we've established to watch Venice will negate the potential existance of any such circumstance. If this edict is alterred to advocate only retaliatory action against Venice once they have broken the treaty, it will have my full unmitigated support.

Further west, we come to the question of Bern. Well, I feel there is actually little question here. There are many here who want Milan back under the Reich's authority, and antagonizing them by taking Bern before them may well be the way to starting that war without sullying our own good name. I have advocated the conquest of Bern anyway for simple strategic reasons. As for Bavaria leading the charge, I see no reason why brother Otto or Steward Mandorf should not be given the chance to prove their mettle. Therefore, I second edict 2.5.

To our most noble House of Austria and the situations in Prague and Breslau, I think Leopold's err on the side of caution may have been for the best. It will give us more time to bring reinforcements to Prague to keep the peace while the good Duke himself moves on after Prague's fall to extend the Reich's reach to Breslau.

As far as the north goes, I must continue to urge calm in regards to the Poles. There are many here that would try to paint these people in the same light as the Italian fetchers to our south, but there is no man here who knows more about these people than I. It is, after all, Franconia who bears the border with these people, and my f... Dietrich's voice trails off, as if he were going to say something then stopped. He shakes his head and continues.

I must propose an alliance with these people to maintain that we are not beset on all sides by war because of simple misinterpretations that could otherwise have been avoided. Therefore, I set out edict 2.7, an alliance should be offered to Poland as soon as possible.

Securing an alliance with these people will secure our position in the east against the Magyars and these Russians we're hearing stories of in the north, as well as giving us a friend in our ever growing sea of potential enemies.

I must draw attention to the Danes though. Those slimy sea snakes have used their longboats to circumvent the land block taking Hamburg provided against their expansion and they've landed in the low countries. Word has it that Antwerp has fallen to their raiders. A close eye must be kept on them, and work must be done to take Stettin before they can surround Hamburg on both sides. While this does deal with edict 2.6, I feel this edict does not push the urgency of the situation enough to truly represent our needs in the north. If the wording were changed to conquer Stettin as soon as possible with my proposed force, it would have my full support. By my calculations, Stettin could be secured with little effort, and our information reports that the Danes have no significant force of any kind within many years march of Hamburg, leaving the castle in no potential danger during this expedition.

I would require the following forces to accompany me and my retinue to take Stettin within the next 10 years (5 turns). Two regiments of mailed knights, these already available at Hamburg, four regiments of peasants, two of which are already available at Hamburg, and three regiments of mounted sargeants. This is an easy take gentlemen, do not overlook this oppertunity to stifle Denmark's growth and gain ourself the most lucrative potential trading hub in the Baltic. Converting Stettin to a city would net us huge profits in the Baltic sea trade.

There may be some question as to my request for large amounts of cavalry. The answer is simple. Swift deployment. Franconia is considerably isolated from the other houses and surrounded by potential enemies. We must have a force capable of rapid deployment from Hamburg that could reach Stettin or Frankfurt in swift time should the need arise. A rapidly deployable cavalry army would give us exactly the kind of force we would need to relieve any potential siege to Stettin, Frankfurt, or Hamburg. And you all know my affinity for cavalry command. I do not disappoint.

This action would, to show that I am not naive and overly trustworthy of the Poles, also allow us to surround Magdeburg in all aspects of the word pending the fall of Prague and Stettin, while Breslau would be a boon too, it is not mandatory to the encirclement of Magdeburg. I must reiterate the trust I have for the Poles, but I am not foolish enough to not have a strategy in case worse comes to worse.

May I also remind this Diet that any edict passed to conquer a rebel settlement becomes null and void if that settlement is taken by another power first. A direct declaration of war must be passed in the diet session to instigate a war on any of our neighbors with one exception. Our noble houses may declare war on any foreign forces they deem to be entering our territory on a mission of conquest without the approval of the diet. This, of course, being for emergency measures.

Dietrich nods to the Diet as he finishes his speach but stops halfway back to his chair.

"Oh, and one more thing. Could somebody be so kind as to send a learned physician to Frankfurt? There's a priest there by the name of Eusebius von der Pfalz who seems to be afflicted with a rather peculiar deformation. Quite frankly I'm not too fond of going anywhere near the man, who knows if it's catchy." Dietrich returns to his seat, patting his chest on the way with a rather disturbed look. He shudders as he sits.

[Ituralde]

Conrad raises quickly after Dietrich von Saxony has spoken and raises a finger.

I may have voiced some of my Edicts not as clear as I had intended.
Edict 2.4 was meant to entail that any aggression against Venice should be started by them. I'm sorry if my description of 'dire reasons' has led to confusion. I think we are of one mind here Dietrich.

Also the army command for Sigismund should not be mandatory and I can fully understand the House of Bavaria's desire to prove their worth on the battlefield. I will second Edict 2.5. Still Edict 2.2 will remain to be seconded, I would not want to curtail the House of Swabia on this matter.

I trust the House of Franconia in judging the North and the Danes and will therefor second any Edict Dietrich proposes for a swift taking of Stettin.
Concerning the Poles I will have to discuss this with my advisors, as Austria seems to be entangled in the East now where my own knowledge is scarce ,rather than Italy.

[Ignoramus]

Count Sigismund again rises to his feet.

I am pleased that our Bavarian friends are eager for battle, but surely if we intended to strike at Milan we would send them to conquer that city itself, rather than sit at the walls of Bern. For, if we leave the Milanese to themselves they will wax stronger, and that we cannot allow. Therefore, I humbly urge this Diet to attack Milan with all haste.

As of my opinion on the edicts that have been proposed so far:

Edict 2.1: I have decided to withdraw this edict, bowing to the superior wisdom of others. I realise that though a threat, Dijon is not as important as some other towns and castles.

Edict 2.2: I will only second this edict if the Diet thinks that I am the right noble to conquer Bern.

Edict 2.3: This is a sensible edict, and as such I second it.

Edict 2.4: For shame, noble electors! Would we treat our own word so lightly? Where is our honour? I cannot support such a shameful deed, and I am apalled that anyone honourable should support it.

Edict 2.5: Again, I must refrain from seconding my edict until later in this session.

Edict 2.6: Another sensible edict; Stettin is a valuable Baltic port and yet again thrawts the attempts of the Danes.

Edict 2.7: Perhaps we ought to wait a while, lest the Poles try to prevent us taking Breslau and Stettin.

[OverKnight]

My lords,

The intent behind edict 2.6 was indeed to take Stettin quickly. By besieging as soon as possible we could lay a claim on those rebellious pagans that the Danes or the Poles could not contest without attacking us. Once besieged the intent was to give the army commander the flexibility, to a degree, to determine when to assault the settlement. I did not wish to dictate tactics from the Diet chamber, only strategy.

Still, the Duke of Franconia will most likely be that army commander, and if he wishes to have more of a challenge and to free his army earlier so he can move onto Breslau, than I shall rephrase the edict. The Duke and I are also of a similar mind when it comes to seeing the potential of turning this small castle into a trading port.

Otto clears his throat and speaks again:

Edict 2.6: Stettin shall be taken in 10 years (5 turns), the Diet recommends that Dietrich von Saxony lead this attack and be assigned the required troops.

I am not comfortable dictating what troops we should recruit. If Governors have sole authority over what they build, shouldn't the Chancellor have sole authority over which soldiers he recruits?

As for an alliance with the Poles, I will second edict 2.7. On our other borders we have some natural barriers, the Rhine, the Alps and the sea, but not in the east. A friendly, or at least a nonbelligerent, power would be welcome there. I have my doubts about whether they will accept, particularly if we beat them to Stettin and Breslau. Still, it is worth the effort.

[Lucjan]

Dietrich is slow to respond to Otto's final comment, turning his words over in his mind before determining the prudent responce.

I have a fair degree of confidence in how the Polish mind works. Extend the alliance to them, I see no reason why they would decline. They sit at a tenuous position between us, the Magyars, and the Russians further north. Their conquest of Magdeburg was probably a nervous reaction as an attempt by some of their nobility to secure an early defensive position because of our swift expansion and slowness in extending an early hand of friendship. Just as our nobility have offered rewards for the conquest of lands, so do theirs.

Were we in their position, I'm sure we'd do the same. Let us, instead, offer these people our good graces.

As far as edict 2.6, I can second it in its current form. I'm sure father and I can work out a fair agreement on the composition of the soldiery.

[Braden]

Leopold had entered the chambers during the last two speeches, muddy and clearly tired from the road. He now sits nodding to himself before rising to address the Diet.

Electors,

I see no reason why we should not at least reach out with an olive branch of Alliance and trade to the Poles. I am a cautious man and slow to trust, as yet the Polish have done nought to suggest they will not be valued allies and if we envisage a conflict in the near future with Hungary it would be very prudent to attempt to secure the North East if we are to fight a war in the South East of Europe.

A few choice alliances now, are vital as I foresee trouble from the Norsemen as well as Hungary and Milan ahead of us. Both the Danes and Milaniese are great traders and have access to funds the like of which we will not see for a few years yet, hence we are at a disadvantage on the battlefield.

I do not doubt the skill of our generals, only the ability of our peasant armies to repel a professional enemy force. Even now my army besieging Prague face a militia of greater training than our own, better paid, better armed and better trained. I have no doubt that I will prevail and take the city soon but it is a wake-up call to me to see a REBELLIOUS state have sufficient income to field troops so far more professional than our own.